I'll likely watch the second episode tonight.
I want to be owned and ruled by Felicia Day!
I want to be owned and ruled by Felicia Day!
The Official and Very Rifftastic Mystery Science Theater 3000 Thread
- Thread starter cooleddie74
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I assume that we're talking about the Americanized Godzilla. Was the original shown in America when we were kids?
I saw The Time Travelers on TV when I was a kid and must admit to having been intrigued by it. The thing was ambitious for a skiffy movie of its time and budget. In the 50s and 60s those of us who loved this stuff could not really be too choosy.
I saw The Time Travelers on TV when I was a kid and must admit to having been intrigued by it. The thing was ambitious for a skiffy movie of its time and budget. In the 50s and 60s those of us who loved this stuff could not really be too choosy.
One of my favorite moments in the new episodes is when we learn that TV's Son of TV's Frank is actually named Max. Not only does Patton nail his character and make him one of the funniest things about the new season but you could see TV's Frank sitting down in Deep 13 with Dr. Forrester and asking if Max would be a good name for a kid. Clayton tells Frank to shut up and go get his favorite cereal bowl before he uses the cattle prod.
The original Ishiro Honda cut did not get any national distribution until the late 2000s (maybe '08 or '09) when it was released in "select" (probably meaning "art house" type) theaters. Then about a year or so later, it was released in a deluxe DVD package. A few years later, Turner Classic Movies aired it with the original Japanese dialogue and subtitled. That was the first time I saw the truly original version. Shortly after the "Legendary Pictures" version was released, a more "frugal" DVD was released, but still having several (if not all) of the extras the earlier, more expensive DVD possessed. It contained both cuts, the original Honda version and the "Americanized" edit with the Raymond Burr inserts. I got it at Wal-Mart for 10 bucks I believe. (The "blurb" on the case's back says it contains both the 1964 and 1966 releases, but that was a clumsy typo when they meant to print 1954 and 1956.)
I'm enjoying the loose, off-center logic of the not-quite-continuity, so reminiscent of the old Joel Robinson days. Jonah with his offhanded explanation that really doesn't make a lick of sense regarding why he gets shot around in a tube during the opening has the same vibe as the lyric about why Joel can't control the movies - he took what apart to build the robots, again? How, why, and huh?
Absolutely delightful.
Absolutely delightful.
I for one am waiting for the first overt references to Mitchell, Earth vs. Soup and Torgo. Take your time since you're just getting going, guys, but don't let us down. 
I watched the "Time Travelers" episode (the second episode wasn't doing much for me right now, may go back and try it again later when I'm in a better mood.) The pacing of the jokes still seems a bit too quick and, at times, it doesn't feel as if the three riffers are in the same room playing off one another but more like they're saying their lines into a recording and they're being played bit by bit. The more rapid-fire jokes seem more like this. Over use of the "X... of the future!" riff in one scene, I think they did almost a good 10 in a row on a shot looking at a pile of crates.
It's not too uncommon for in MST3K and even Cinematic Titanic or Rifftrax for the riffers to riff on some aspect of the movie they either didn't understand or missed, sometimes in a misunderstanding of how things really work. (Good example of this is the MP3 vs. the Live riff on Birdemic. In the MP3 version Bill Corbett questions a scientist's suggestion that humans need to act more like astronauts in order to protect the earth and not use fossil fuels. Corbett says, "You mean by burning fossil fuels by the tons?" seemingly misunderstanding that rocket launches aren't based on the combustion of fossil fuels. This riff is removed from the later Live riff on Birdemic.) This is understandable in some cases where it's some aspect the movie simply doesn't explain or showcase well but this one in Time Travelers is particularly egregious. A couple times while in the future they pick on aspects of the future for seemingly being out of place for "100,000 years in the future" even though on several occasions the movie makes it clear they only traveled a little over 100 years into the future. (The travelers do travel 100,000 years into the future in the final moments of the movie.)
But, a good episode. Still not feeling the hose segments but, again, I never always did in the original series though they worked more for me in the Sci-Fi years. The interaction skit with the travelers via Rocket #9 and this series' version of the Hexfield was much more of a miss than a hit when it comes to the skits involving tie-ins to the episode's experiment.
Still loving Felicia Day and Patton Oswalt is growing on me.
Overly picky, yes, yes, I know. But I do enjoy this more than I thought I would and it still feels very much "true" to the original and the B-Grade effects are great, the opening sequence and the door-sequence continue to tickle me.
It's not too uncommon for in MST3K and even Cinematic Titanic or Rifftrax for the riffers to riff on some aspect of the movie they either didn't understand or missed, sometimes in a misunderstanding of how things really work. (Good example of this is the MP3 vs. the Live riff on Birdemic. In the MP3 version Bill Corbett questions a scientist's suggestion that humans need to act more like astronauts in order to protect the earth and not use fossil fuels. Corbett says, "You mean by burning fossil fuels by the tons?" seemingly misunderstanding that rocket launches aren't based on the combustion of fossil fuels. This riff is removed from the later Live riff on Birdemic.) This is understandable in some cases where it's some aspect the movie simply doesn't explain or showcase well but this one in Time Travelers is particularly egregious. A couple times while in the future they pick on aspects of the future for seemingly being out of place for "100,000 years in the future" even though on several occasions the movie makes it clear they only traveled a little over 100 years into the future. (The travelers do travel 100,000 years into the future in the final moments of the movie.)
But, a good episode. Still not feeling the hose segments but, again, I never always did in the original series though they worked more for me in the Sci-Fi years. The interaction skit with the travelers via Rocket #9 and this series' version of the Hexfield was much more of a miss than a hit when it comes to the skits involving tie-ins to the episode's experiment.
Still loving Felicia Day and Patton Oswalt is growing on me.
Overly picky, yes, yes, I know. But I do enjoy this more than I thought I would and it still feels very much "true" to the original and the B-Grade effects are great, the opening sequence and the door-sequence continue to tickle me.
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My favorite visits on the Hexfield viewscreen were during the Joel years. J.C. and GOOCH! during The Side Hackers, the visit of the Satanic-looking hot rod with the skull on the hood and the dangling skeleton in Teenagers From Outer Space and whenever Mike would drop by to torment the Satellite of Love as Hugh Beaumont. I still laugh at the Side Hackers and skeleton visits more than I do at most of the other host segments during the original run of the series.
I'm not sure if you're aware of it, but it's not like they did that, they actually did do that:
http://nerdist.com/mystery-science-theater-3000-jonah-ray-baron-vaughn-hampton-yount-mst3k/
I wasn't aware that that was how they did it, but it makes sense that it is, since that's how it plays out.
Which is a shame because in the "original" they'd write the riffs in various screenings of the movies and then the host, Kevin, Bill (or Trace) would sit in front of the seats silhouette and act out the script while saying the pre-written lines and watching the movie on a nearby TV out of sight of the main filming camera.
This gave us a good sense of chemistry and play off the host and the bots as they interacted with one another and their lines built or played on one another, this is how Rifftrax and Cinematic Titanic do it (did it) too and it works because, again, you get that sense of interaction.
This just feels like someone is pressing a button and someone is saying a pre-recorded joke and there's not much, if any, play or interaction off the characters and their jokes. This is also why the jokes seem too rapid-fire and come quickly like the "... of the future!" jokes in "The Time Machine." These aren't three jokesters watching a terrible movie making jokes this is someone pressing a button and playing a pre-recorded joke, so things feel almost on-top of one another and there's little interaction.
Still liking the series but it doesn't quite have the "feel" of things yet for me that Rifftrax does or the original show did. I think they tried too hard to "get in as many jokes as they could" without thinking about play and interaction between characters and giving the audience a chance to breathe and process the jokes.
Which is a shame because in the "original" they'd write the riffs in various screenings of the movies and then the host, Kevin, Bill (or Trace) would sit in front of the seats silhouette and act out the script while saying the pre-written lines and watching the movie on a nearby TV out of sight of the main filming camera.
This gave us a good sense of chemistry and play off the host and the bots as they interacted with one another and their lines built or played on one another, this is how Rifftrax and Cinematic Titanic do it (did it) too and it works because, again, you get that sense of interaction.
This just feels like someone is pressing a button and someone is saying a pre-recorded joke and there's not much, if any, play or interaction off the characters and their jokes. This is also why the jokes seem too rapid-fire and come quickly like the "... of the future!" jokes in "The Time Machine." These aren't three jokesters watching a terrible movie making jokes this is someone pressing a button and playing a pre-recorded joke, so things feel almost on-top of one another and there's little interaction.
Still liking the series but it doesn't quite have the "feel" of things yet for me that Rifftrax does or the original show did. I think they tried too hard to "get in as many jokes as they could" without thinking about play and interaction between characters and giving the audience a chance to breathe and process the jokes.
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I'm getting more used to the rhythm of the new MST3k as I go along, but I do miss the more casual feel of the old show. As others have said, this version feels like a joke-producing machine rather not three guys having fun riffing on a bad movie. There have been enough complaints about this that, more than likely, tweaks will be made in future seasons (if we're lucky enough to get more).
Not enough like the old version? Aside from the general feel of the jokes and such it pretty much is an exact copy of the original. The Satellite of Love, Gypsy, Tom Servo, Crow and Cambot as they appeared in the show (though a new iteration of Cambot) the look of the SoL bridge a Forrester mad with a TV's Frank co-host/lacky. Even the opening theme is a direct reuse of the original's theme. The show is virtually identical to the old version making it appropriate to call this "Season 11."
Yeah, but you know, Jonah's not angsty enough about being marooned on the SoL, and there are those needless cameos by celebrities.
Also, Wil Wheaton has a small part in it. He's described as a "nerd albatross."
Seriously, people who still think dissing Wheaton is clever or interesting are just the most pathetic of creatures.
Also, Wil Wheaton has a small part in it. He's described as a "nerd albatross."
Seriously, people who still think dissing Wheaton is clever or interesting are just the most pathetic of creatures.
I think Wheaton has totally regained his cred from the slightly annoying character he played 30 years ago.
I watched the first episode..sort of. I fell asleep after 3/4 of it.
I'm a huge fan of MST3k. I remember coming home from work and collapsing for the midnight showing on Comedy Central. I actually watched as much of Turkey Day as I could pre and post-family gatherings. I had the Poopie videos and making of videos before most people even knew what they were. I even found something to laugh at in the generally crappy KTMA episodes. I love the show.
So the new show on Netflix was a major deal for me. I had some excitement for the new cast, which I thought was generally interesting..
But it just didn't work for me. You could say the original show had some scattershot comedy and was all over the place, but none of the jokes landed in episode 1. It was a lot of random, fast talking. I haven't even attempted to watch episode 2 yet and it's been a week. I understand the word is the episodes get better. I really hope so.
RAMA
I'm a huge fan of MST3k. I remember coming home from work and collapsing for the midnight showing on Comedy Central. I actually watched as much of Turkey Day as I could pre and post-family gatherings. I had the Poopie videos and making of videos before most people even knew what they were. I even found something to laugh at in the generally crappy KTMA episodes. I love the show.
So the new show on Netflix was a major deal for me. I had some excitement for the new cast, which I thought was generally interesting..
But it just didn't work for me. You could say the original show had some scattershot comedy and was all over the place, but none of the jokes landed in episode 1. It was a lot of random, fast talking. I haven't even attempted to watch episode 2 yet and it's been a week. I understand the word is the episodes get better. I really hope so.
RAMA
I never got the dislike of Wil Wheaton. But I did like Wesley as a kid and I've enjoyed everything he's done in recent years.
I recall seeing him at a Con in 1994. His applause when he came out was very subdued, no doubt a reflection of the audience's relationship with Wesley. He got a much bigger applause up in leaving and rightly so. He was smart, funny, engaging and quite upfront about his feelings regarding the show and his character. None of that appears to have changed, in fact deepened. I like him a lot. Apart from that stupid beard. At least groom that sucker Wil
